Folding stereoscopic viewer



April 23, 1957 R. KAUFMAN 'FOLDING 'sTEREoscoPIc vIEwER Filed Jan. 1a,.1954- JNVENTOE ,706,087 K/lufnfm Y ,qrro N5) United States Patent OFOLDING STEREOSCOPIC VIEWER Robert Kaufman, New York, N. Y.

Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,435

Claims. (Cl. 88-29) The present invention relates to a stereoscope orstereo viewer.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscopewhich can be readily collapsed into a thin, flat and compact bodysuitable for sending, letterlike, through the mail and convenient forstorage and for keeping in a pocket.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscope whichmay be atly folded and which may carry pictorial advertising materialinteriorly thereof and printed advertising material on its exterior,thus providing a superior advertising medium.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscopeof simplified construction which can be economically formed of a singleblank of flexible ma terial.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscopeprovided with a body formed of a flexible material, the exibility ofwhich is utilized to provide focusing control of the stereoscope.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a flexiblestereoscope that may be conveniently held in proper proximity to theeyes during use.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the stereoscopeof the invention will be more fully understood from the followingdescription considered in connection with the accompanying illustrativedrawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the mode presently contemplated by mefor carrying out the invention:

Fig. l is a plan view of a blank sheet of material from which thestereoscope of the present invention is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stereoscope in co1- lapsed or foldedcondition thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stereoscope in operative conditionthereof; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the stereoscope 10 of thepresent invention is formed from the blank 12 illustrated in Fig. l.Said blank is fabricated from a suitable exible sheet material, such as,for example and not by way of limitation, cardboard. Said blank has anelongated body 14 in which there is defined the pair of preferablyrectangular light openings 16 adjacent one end of the blank and a pairof similar light openings 18 adjacent the other end thereof. An ovalshaped aperture 20 is positioned intermediate the openings 16, asillustrated, and the transverse fold-line 22 extends through saidaperture to define a foldable tab 24 at said first mentioned blank end.The fold line 26 defines a foldable tab 28, at the other blank end,which tab is provided with an adhesive coating 30. `The blank isadditionally provided with the transverse foldlines 32, 34, 36, 38, 40and 42, the functions ofv which will presently appear. A pair ofcircular viewing apertures aredefined in the blank substantiallycentrallythereof and an oval shaped aperture 48 extendsbetween saidcircular apertures.

ice

Adjacent each of the rectangular openings 16, the blank is provided withan integral laterally extending and tapered arm 52 in which there isdefined a central longitudinal crease 54 normally maintaining the arm 52in at least partly folded state, a fold line 56 which is extensive withthe adjacent side edge of the body 14, and a fold line 58 adjacent thefree end of the arm. Fold line 5'8 defines a foldable tab 60 which isprovided with an adhesive coating 62.

At each of its side edges, the blank is provided with a reinforcing tab64 which is foldable along a fold line 66 extensive with the adjacentside edge. It will be noted that the fold line 36 extends into the tabs64, as indicated at 36. Each tab 64 is provided with an adhesive coating67. A circular viewing aperture 68 and an openended slot 7) are definedin each tab 64.

In addition to the blank 12, the stereoscope 10 is provided with a pairof suitable magnifying lenses 72 and with a translucent sheet 74,preferably formed of Celluloid or other suitable material. Thetranslucent sheet overlies the light apertures 16, as illustrated inFig. 1, the tab 24 being bent along fold line 22 to overlie said sheet,along a marginal edge thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In order tomount the lenses 72 in position, the tabs 64 are each folded along thefold line 66 thereof to overlie the adjacent portion of the blank body14 for reenforcing,7 the latter, being secured thereto by the adhesivecoating 67, with the tab aperture 68 in registry with the adjacent bodyaperture 44. Each lens 72 is secured, preferably by an adhesive strip 76(Fig. 4) to the uncoated surface of a tab 64.

In order to assemble the stereoscope 10, the blank 12 is folded alongthe various fold lines 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 thereof and thefoldable tab 28 is adhesively secured within the fold line 32 so as tosecure the lower marginal edge of the translucent sheet 74, in position,as illustrated in Fig. 4, the opposite marginal edge being retained inposition by the folded tab 24, as previously explained. It will be notedthat each light opening 18 is now inwardly of, and in registry with acooperating light opening 16, with the sheet 74 interposed between saidlight openings. Further, it will be noted that a viewing chamber 78 isnow defined, having a light receiving wall 8i), at one end thereof, anda viewing wall S2, at theA opposite end thereof, each pair of companionviewing apertures 44 and 68 in the viewing wall being in registry with apair of light receiving apertures 16 and 18 in the lightreceiving wall.In order to form the inwardly foldable side walls 84 of the viewingchamber, each arm 52 is bent along its fold lines S6 and 58 and the tab60 thereof is inserted through the slot 70 of the adjacent tab 64 so asto be disposed between the inner surface of the viewing wall 82, towhich it is secured by the adhesive coating 62, and the coated surfaceof the tab 64.

The upper wall 86 of the stereoscope or viewer 10 vis formed by theblank portion between the fold lines 38 and 42, and said wall isprovided with the crease'.40, substantially centrally thereof to providea bellows-like fold construction. The lower wall 88 is formed by 'theblank portion between the fold lines 32 and 36, and is provided with thecrease 34, substantially centrally thereof, to also provide abellows-like foldconstruction.v Consequently the upper and lower wallsare normally folded and collapsed, as in Fig. 2.

With the stereoscope 10 in the conditi-on thereof illustrated in Figs. 3and 4, a suitable translucent double or stereoscopic picture slide orlrn may be inserted b e-v tween the translucent sheet 74 and the lightopeningsv 18, through the opening 93 (Fig. 4) so that each picture willbe disposed between a light opening 16 andfits paired light opening 18for producing the stereoscopic picture effect when both pictures areviewed simultaneously through the viewing apertures. The folded overoval portion 20, as best Vshown in Fig. 2, facilitates the'insertion andremoval of the slide. in order to adjust the focus, pressure may beapplied along the creases 40 and 34, in the upper and lower walls, tomove the end walls 80 and 82 apart from each other, and as the pressureis relaxed said walls will move together due to the flexibility of the-blank material. This may be accomplished with the wall 8) pointedtoward a light source and while looking through the openings 72 in theWall 82. The oval opening St accommodates the bridge of a vicwers nose.Therefore, byproperly adjusting the relative dispositions of the endwalls @it and 82 the viewer may be placed in proper focus.

The stereo viewer lit may be readily folded and collaped for mailing orfor placing in a pocket or the like, by merely urging the end walls Si)and S2 together, to Collapse the viewer, as in Fig. 2. it will be notedthat in this condition, the side walls 84 folded into the viewer betweenthe end walls 80 and S52, and upper and lower walls 86 and 83 fold out,as in Fig. 2. In order to restore the viewer to its operative condition,it is necessary only to urge the upper and lower walls, 85 and 88,together by pressing together alo-ng the creases 40 and 34 therein untilthe condition illustrated in Fig. 3 is resumed.-

In View of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the describedconstruction provides for a light weight, compact and fol-dablestereoscope which can be inexpensively manufactured from a single sheetof cardboard, or the like and which can be focused in a simple manner.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, i-t will be understood that various changes may be made inthe present invention without departing from the underlying idea orprinciples of vthe invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus 4described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. An optical device, comprising an elongated blank of exible sheetmaterial, said blank having transverse fold `lines formed thereindividing it into end sections, a, central section, and an intermediatesection between said central vsection and each of said end sections; oneof said end sections having lateral extensions and a fold line vformedbetween it and each of said lateral extensions, 'said blank beingfoldable along said fold lines to form a chamber, with said centralsection forming one end wall of said chamber, said intermediate sectionsforming the top and bottom walls thereof, said end sections oppositelyoverlapping to form the seco-nd end wall thereof and said extensionshaving their free ends Ysecured to said central section to form `theside walls thereof; registering light admitting means provided in saidend sections and viewing means provided in said central section adaptedto vbe disposed in alinement with registering light -admitting meanswhen said blank is folded A'into a Ichamber, said blank being providedwith laterally extending tabs yadjacent said central section, said tabslbeing inwardly foldable and secura-ble over -saidfcentral section andprovided with an opening for'registering with the said viewing meansprovided 1in said central section.

2. Afstereoscope or the like, comprising an elongated blank ofitexible.sheet material, said blank having-transverse f'o'ld linesformed therein`dividing it into end sections, fa..central-section, and an intermediatesection between said central section and each of said end sections; oneof fsaid end 7sections havinglateral extensions and a fold lineformed-between it and each yof said lateral extensions, Vsaid lblankfolded along said fold lines to form Fa'c'hamber, said intermediatevsections forming the t'qpjb'ottom walls yof saidchamber, saidendsections 'qppols'itelyfoverlapping, the inner ,o'f said`overlapping-sectionslhaving .a I,I12ujgitia1transverse ,portion andsecured by said portion to said blank adjacent the fold line lbetweenthe other of said end sectionsl and the contiguous intermediate sectionto,v thereby form an open top pocket between the said end sections, saidend sections forming the other end of said chamber, said extensionshaving their free ends secured to said central section to form the sidewalls of said chamber; registering light admitting means provided insaid end sections and viewing means provided in said central sectiondisposed in alinement with said registering light admitting means whensaid blank is folded into a chamber.

3. The stereoscope or the like of claim 2, wherein said light admittingmeans comprise openings in said outer and inner end sections and atranslucent element is disposed in the pocket formed between them, saidouter end section having a marginal ap foldable inwardly to engage overan edge of said translucent element.

4. An optical device, comprising an elongated blank of exible material,said blank having fold lines formed transversely thereof dividing itinto end sections, a central section, and an intermediate sectionbetween said central section and each of said end sections, one of saidend sections having lateral extensions and a fold line formed thereinbetween it and each of said extensions, each of said intermediatesections and said extensions having a transverse crease line formedtherein normallj maintaining it in folded state, said blank folded alongsaid fold lines with said end sections overlapping and with said rstnamed end section outermost and with said other end sec-tion secured tosaid blank, to form a chamber, said end sections and said `centralsection forming the end wal-ls of said chamber, said intermediatesections forming the top and bottom walls thereof, and said extensionssecured by their free ends to said centrai section and forming the sidevwalls of said chamber, registering light admitting means provided insaid end sections and viewing means provided in said central section:disposed to be alined with said light admitting means when said blankis folded into a chamber.

5. The optical device of claim 4, wherein said crease lines in saidintermediate sections land said extensions are oppositely formed forfolding in opposed directions.

6. The optical device of claim 4, wherein said innermost end section isformed with la transverse extension and is secured by said extension tosaid blank adjacent the fold line between said outermost end section andthe contiguous intermediate section, to form an open top pocket betweensaid end sections.

7. The optical device of claim 4, wherein said innermost end section isformed with a transverse extension and is secured thereby to said blankadjacent the -fold line between lsaid outermost end section and thecontiguous intermediate section to form an open top pocket between saidend sections, and wherein ya translucent element is disposed in saidpocket and said outermost end section is formed with an end extensionfoldable inwardly to engage over said translucent element.

8. The optical device offclaim 4, wherein said 4blank is provided withlaterally extending tabs adjacent said central section, said tabs beinginwardly foldable and securable over said central section and areprovided with opening for registering with said viewing means in saidcentral section and wherein lens means are engaged between said tabs,and said central section opposite said openings.

A11 opticaldevice, fcomprisingtanelongated blank of flexiblemateriahsaidblankhaving fold lines-formedtrans- Versely thereacross dividing itintoendrsections, -a central section, and an intermediate section betweensaid central section and each of saidend sections, one of saidendsections having lateral extensions and a fold 'line formed between itand each ofsaid extensions, each of said intermediate sections and lsaidlateral `extensicms Ahaving a transverselvfextending crease lineformedtherenermeli lvmentaining itjntfoldedfstate,fsaidblankfolded @lons SaidtQldjtliasS Withtl Quisfsvertionofone endfssilln secured adjacent theinner portion of the end section having the lateral extensions to form achamber with said end sections and said central section forming the endWalls of said chamber, said intermediate sections forming the top andbottom walls thereof/and said extensions forming the side walls thereof,said lateral extensions secured by their ends to said central section,said end walls having alined light passageways provided therein.

10. An optical device, comprising an elongated blank of exible material,said blank having fold lines formed therein transversely thereacrossdividing it into end sections, a central section, and an intermediatesection between said central section and each of said end sections, oneof said end sections having lateral extensions and fold lines formedbetween it and each of said extensions, said blank folded along saidfold lines with the outer portion of one end section secured adjacentthe inner portion of the end section having the lateral extensions toform a chamber, said central section and said end sections forming theend walls of said chamber, said intermediate sections forming the pairof top and bottom walls thereof, said lateral extensions secured bytheir ends to said central section and forming a pair of side walls ofsaid cham- 6 ber, each of the walls of at least one of said pairs owalls having a crease formed therein normally maintaining them in foldedposition in one directon relative to said end walls and each of thewalls of the other of said last two pairs of walls being foldable in adirection opposite to said iirst of the last two pairs of wa'lls, saidend walls having alined light passages provided therein.

References Cited inthe iile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 12,451Stull Feb. 27, 1855 1,221,836 Couden Apr. 10, 1917 1,655,989 Duval Ian.10, 1928 2,071,120 Harlow Feb. 16, 1937 2,643,578 Williams June 30, 19532,662,442 Gowland Dec. 15, 1953 2,696,754 Mamock Dec. 14, 1954 2,724,991Levine Nov. 29, 1955 2,768,554 Leslie Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 41,842 Great Britain of 1855 529,770 France Sept. 16, 1921

